Adjustable desk and chair combination

ABSTRACT

An adjustable desk and chair combination which is capable of simultaneously adjusting the elevation of both the desk and the chair and varying the lateral distance between them. The desk includes a frame defined by a base member for receiving fastening members for securing the desk to an adjusting member, and a plurality of side members in a combination with a top member. The adjusting member includes a pair of rigid support members, each having a first horizontal portion, intermediate portions disposed at each end thereof, and second horizontal portions connected to each intermediate portion. Fastening members are secured to the second horizontal members and to the base of the desk set and to the base of the chair respectively. The respective intermediate portions of a pair of rigid support members are pivotally interconnected so that the desk and chair may be adjusted by the scissor action of the adjustable member. The openings in the base of the desk are arranged so that the lateral distance between the desk and the chair is changed at the same time that the elevations of the desk and chair are adjusted. Thus, the desk is nearest the chair in its lowest position and furthest therefrom in its highest position. The top member is hinged to the frame of the desk by hinges so that the desk top member may rest in recesses in the opposed side members of the desk at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal.

United tates Patent [72] Inventor Su-Shian Ho No. 93, Mei Te Street Hsl Lin, Taipei, China /Taiwan [21] Appl. No. 884,465 [22] Filed Dec. 12, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 23, 1971 [54] ADJUSTABLE DESK AND CHAIR COMBINATION 7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. CL 297/172, 108/138, 248/419 [51] Int. Cl A471) 39/00 [50] Field of Search 297/170, 172, 174, 346; 248/419, 420, 432; 168/138 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,731,375 10/1929 Engers 297/172 2,023,761 12/1935 Drummey... 297/172 2,732,007 1/1956 MacWitirter 1. 297/172 Primary Examiner-James C Mitchell At!0rneyLane, Aitken, Dunner and Ziems ABSTRACT: An adjustable desk and chair combination which is capable of simultaneously adjusting the elevation of both the desk and the chair and varying the lateral distance between them. The desk includes a frame defined by a base member for receiving fastening members for securing the desk to an adjusting member, and a plurality of side members in a combination with a top member. The adjusting member includes a pair of rigid support members, each having a first horizontal portion, intermediate portions disposed at each end thereof, and second horizontal portions connected to each intermediate portion. Fastening members are secured to the second horizontal members and to the base of the desk set and to the base of the chair respectively. The respective intermediate portions of a pair of rigid support members are pivotally interconnected so that the desk and chair may be adjusted by the scissor actionof the adjustable member. The openings in the base of the desk are arranged so that the lateral distance between the desk and the chair is changed at the same time that the elevations of the desk and chair are adjusted. Thus, the desk is nearest the chair in its lowest position and furthest therefrom in its highest position. The top member is hinged to the frame of the desk by hinges so that the desk top 'member may rest in recesses in the opposed side members of the desk at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal.

PATENIEUunv 23 ml 3,622,199

saw a or 2 //VVEA/7'0R SU- SHIAN HO of QWW AT ORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable desk and chair combination. More particularly, this invention relates to a desk and chair combination in which the elevations of both the desk and the chair may be adjusted simultaneously. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a desk and chair combination in which the lateral distance between the desk and the chair may be adjusted simultaneously with an adjustment of the elevations of both the desk and the chair. It is an additional feature of the invention that the top member of the desk is secured to the desk frame so that it may be inclined to form an angle with respect to the horizontal plane, preferably of to It is a problem in providing desks and chairs, particularly to educational and social institutions, to accommodate students or children of diverse sizes within a given age group or diverse age groups. Thus, desks and chairs which are suitably sized for children in the early grades in a school system are obviously not appropriate for use by children in the advanced grades. Thus, it is a problem in the art to provide desks and chairs which may be conveniently adjusted to accommodate size variances among children in a given grade and among children in different grades.

Moreover, it is often desired to provide combination desks and chairs so that the desk and chair may be positioned as a unit and moved quickly as the needs for space and arrangement require. In such cases, the problem of providing an adjustment to the combination desk and chair are compounded. Such problems have increased the cost and have produced solutions which may be generally classified as complex, and which require special tools and the like to provide the adjustment.

Furthermore, it is a problem in the art to provide an adjustment for the desk and chair combination which achieves an alteration not only in the elevations of the desks and the chairs from the floor, but also in the relative lateral distance between the desk and the chair. Accordingly, it is a problem to provide a simple adjustment which achieves both of these aims.

Still another problem in the art of providing desk and chair combinations is to provide means for rapid assembly and disassembly of the unit to facilitate its packing, shipping and storage. Accordingly, it is a constraint on any solution to the above-identified problems of adjustment that the desk and chair combination be rapidly assembled and disassembled, as well as easily adjusted.

It is still another problem in arranging and providing a desk having a top which may be inclined with respect to the horizontal. While some students operate most efiectively with a horizontal desk, other students prefer that the desk top be inclined. Accordingly, it is a problem to provide means for adjusting the desk top to accommodate a range of positions.

Moreover, the solution to the problem of providing an inclined desk top must also provide means for restraining objects, such as pencils, which would be inclined to roll down the desk and onto the floor.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a unitary, adjustable desk-chair combination.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable desk and chair combination wherein the elevations of both the desk and the chair may be easily adjusted.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combination desk and chair wherein the lateral distance between the desk and chair is adjusted when the elevations of the desk and chair are changed.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a desk in which the surface plate is adjustable and means are provided for retaining objects on the surface of the desk which would otherwise tend to roll off.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION An adjustable desk and chair combination which overcomes the problems of the prior art includes a desk which comprises an adjustable top member hinged to a frame having a base member and a plurality of side members to define an enclosed space for the storage of books and supplies. The chair includes a seating member and a backrest. Means are provided for interconnecting the desk and the chair which are capable of simultaneously adjusting the height of both the desk and the chair, as well as adjusting the lateral distance therebetween. The adjusting means comprises a pair of rigid members defined by a first member intended to rest upon a surface such as a floor, intermediate members disposed at each end thereof, and second members secured to each of the intermediate members. A pair of the second members are also secured to openings in the base of the frame of the desk. The openings in the desk are angularly oriented with respect to the chair so that when the deskand chair are at their lowermost elevations, the distance between the desk and the chair is at its least, while when the desk and chair are at their highest adjustable positions, the distance between them is at its maximum. The desk top is hinged to the frame by two pairs of adjustable hinges so that when the desk top is raised to provide an incline to the top member for the student, one edge of the top member may rest in recesses in the opposed side member of the desk frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the adjustable desk and chair combination according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the combination;

FIG. 3 illustrates the surface plate of the desk in its upraised position; and,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the connection of the desk top to the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I, an adjustable desk and chair combination according to the invention includes a desk, shown generally at 1, an adjustable supporting member, shown generally at 2, which is connected to the desk 1 by securing means 21, and to a chair designated generally at 3 by securing means 25.

The adjustable support member 2 includes a pair of rigid support members, each of which is similar to a capital letter C. The rigid members are pivotally cross-linked so that an adjustment of the elevations of the desk and the chair may be achieved by the scissorlike action of the adjustable support member.

Each rigid support member comprises a first member 4, and a second member designated generally at 4a and 4b disposed at either end of member 4. Each member 4a and 4b includes an L-shaped intermediate 5 and an end member 6 secured to the distal ends of member 5, which are capable of receiving securing means 21 and 25 respectively. As shown, the intermediate member 5 and the end member 6 form unitary structures. Connectors 23 link the member 4 with the horizontally extending portion of member 5 and may serve to provide means for quickly disconnecting the desk from the chair at time of storage or for shipping and the like. Furthennore, the coupling member 23 has a surface coating to inhibit the sliding of the desk and chair combination on the floor of the schoolroom.

A pair of the rigid C-shaped support members as described above are interconnected by fastening means 22 and 24 respectively which secure the respective members 40 to each other so that they cooperate to provide an adjustable member having a scissorlike action which raises and lowers the elevation of the desk and the chair relative to the surface level when the members are secured at various distances apart on the bases of the desk and chair respectively.

When in their most separated position, as shown in H6. 2, by the connections at a distance designated by D the portion 6 of member 4a is secured to the base of the desk at the outermost row of hole pairs 18, 18, while the corresponding member 6 is secured to the chair by fastening means 25 at the outermost portion of slot 37, and designated as spread apart by a distance d,. In the position illustrated, both the desk and the chair are thus at their lowermost elevations.

On the other hand, if the members 6 are secured to the desk base through the innermost hole pairs l8, l8, and separated by the distance designated D and a corresponding member 6 is secured to the chair by slot 37 at the innermost position of the slot designated d,,, the elevations of the desk and the chair are at their maximum.

It will be understood that when the hole pairs 18 and 18 are angularly oriented with respect to the chair 3, the lateral distance between the desk and the chair is changed at the same time the vertical elevations are adjusted. Thus, the outermost hole pairs 18, 18' are disposed at the position which is forward relative to the innermost hole pairs, so that when the portions 6 are located in the hole pairs at the outermost position, as shown in FIG. 2, the desk is removed from the chair by the distance L,. On the other hand, when members 6 are secured to the desk at the innermost hole pairs, the desk is moved forward relative to the chair, so that the separation between the desk and chair is thus designated by the distance L Accordingly, the adjustable member 2 is secured to the desk 1 and the chair 3 in such a manner that the heights of both the desk and chair may be changed in accordance with a hole position separated by a distance designated as D, and defined by the hole pairs 18 and 18 located between the positions designated as D and D The chair may be adjusted to a position d ranging between the position designated at d, and the position designated at [1,, while at the same time the horizontal distance between the desk and the chair designated generally at L may be adjusted between the limits L and L The chair 3 includes a seat 34 which is secured to the member 6 by fastening means 25, for example, wingnuts secured to bolts. A rear member 32 is secured to a member 35 which is also secured to the seat member 34 by fastening members 36, for example, wingnuts secured to bolts. The front surface of the backrest 32 is provided with a gentle curvature to accommodate the back of the user in a comfortable manner.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the desk 1 includes a frame shown generally at 12 comprising a plurality of side members 14, M, 16 and 16, and a base member 8 to define, in cooperation with the desk top member 11, an enclosed space to accommodate books, pencils, supplies and the like.

The desk top 11 is secured to a height adjusting member 17 by a first pair of adjustable hinges 13'. Member 17 is also secured to frame member 16 by hinges 13. Thus, in the position shown in FIG. 3, the adjustable member i7 may be placed in a vertical position in relative alignment with frame member 16 so that the desk top 11 may assume an angle, preferably from 15 to with respect to the horizontal, to accommodate a natural and comfortable eye angle for the student.

Recesses l5 and 15 are provided in the upper surface of side members 14, 14' at their forward end, adjacent to the front member 16 of the desk to receive the forward edge of the desk top 11 when it is in its raised position. The recesses 15 are sufficiently deep to retain the top member 11] against inadvertent forward sliding when in the upraised position, as well as to form a channel which is bounded by the rear of the front frame member 16 to prevent objects on the desk top from rolling ofi when in its upraised position.

Thus, a novel desk and chair combination has been described having a number of unique features relative to adjustment of the height of the desk and chair, the lateral relationship of the desk to the chair, and providing an adjustable desk top.

I claim:

I. An adjustable desk and chair combination a desk,

a chair,

means interconnecting said desk and said chair for simultaneously adjusting the elevations of both said desk and said chair, said adjusting means including a plurality of rigid support members, each including a horizontal portion for resting on a surface, a first intermediate portion secured to one end of said horizontal portion, a second intermediate portion secured to the other end of said horizontal portion, a first attaching portion secured to said first intermediate portion which is capable of being attached to said desk, and a second attaching portion secured to said second intermediate portion which is capable of being attached to said chair and,

means for securing each of said first and second attaching portions to said desk and said chair.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further includmg:

fastening means secured to a pair of said rigid support members so that said pair of rigid support members are crosslinked at the corresponding intermediate portions of each of said rigid members and so that said rigid members cooperate one with the other in a scissorlike arrangement whereupon when said rigid member is secured to said desk and to said chair at different locations thereon, the elevations of the desk are thus changed.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said desk comprises a plurality of openings disposed in the base of said desk, and arranged in such a manner that openings disposed near the center of said desk are closer to said chair than openings disposed near the outer portion of said desk, thus causing the desk to be nearest said chair when the desk is at its lowest elevation.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said desk comprises a frame which includes a baseplate, a plurality of said side plates, and a top member secured to one of said side plates.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 and further including a raising member which is pivotally secured to one of the side plates of the frame of said desk, and said top member is secured to said raising member so that the top member may be raised with respect to said side members in such a manner that it provides an inclined surface with respect to the horizontal.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said chair comprises a seat, a backrest, and an adjustable support means interconnecting said seat and said backrest in such a manner that the level of the backrest can be adjusted.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said seat includes a plurality of slots disposed therein to accommodate the means for securing the second attaching portions of said rigid support members to said seats.

comprising: 

1. An adjustable desk and chair combination comprising: a desk, a chair, means interconnecting said desk and said chair for simultaneously adjusting the elevations of both said desk and said chair, said adjusting means including a plurality of rigid support members, each including a horizontal portion for resting on a surface, a first intermediate portion secured to one end of said horizontal portion, a second intermediate portion secured to the other end of said horizontal portion, a first attaching portion secured to said first intermediate portion which is capable of being attached to said desk, and a second attaching portion secured to said second intermediate portion which is capable of being attached to said chair and, means for securing each of said first and second attaching portions to said desk and said chair.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and further including: fastening means secured to a pair of said rigid support members so that said pair of rigid support members are cross-linked at the corresponding intermediate portions of each of said rigid members and so that said rigid members cooperate one with the other in a scissorlike arrangement whereupon when said rigid member is secured to said desk and to said chair at different locations thereon, the elevations of the desk are thus changed.
 3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said desk comprises a plurality of openings disposed in the base of said desk, and arranged in such a manner that openings disposed near the center of said desk are closer to said chair than openings disposed near the outer portion of said desk, thus causing the desk to be nearest said chair when the desk is at its lowest elevation.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said desk comprises a frame which includes a baseplate, a plurality of said side plates, and a top member secured to one of said side plates.
 5. The combination as defined in claim 4 and further including a raising member which is pivotally secured to one of the side plates of the frame of said desk, and said Top member is secured to said raising member so that the top member may be raised with respect to said side members in such a manner that it provides an inclined surface with respect to the horizontal.
 6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said chair comprises a seat, a backrest, and an adjustable support means interconnecting said seat and said backrest in such a manner that the level of the backrest can be adjusted.
 7. The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said seat includes a plurality of slots disposed therein to accommodate the means for securing the second attaching portions of said rigid support members to said seats. 